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Malta
BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE OF SCIENCE IN MALTA
Over the last decade, the structure and governance of science and research in Malta has undergone considerable change in the last decade due to a number of factors but primarily the impetus deriving from the accession to the EU and the benefits and pressures of EU membership which has lead to strong policy initiatives on the part of government and to the country embarking on a fast learning curve. A number of strategic changes to improve R&I governance and institutional structures have been introduced since 2005 which have given R&I a much-needed higher profile on the national agenda.
In the period 2005/6, the governance of the system of R&D policy instruments underwent a major transformation as a result of the Prime Minister's request for a review of the research and innovation sector. This resulted in a number of changes affecting both the structure and organisation of the Research and Innovation policy-making framework together with the orientation, development and implementation of policies. A higher profile and a revised and more specific remit was assigned to the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) together with stronger links with the Office of the Prime Minister. MCST's position was further strengthened by the appointment of a high profile Chairman and Board together with a 40 member Advisory Council chaired by the Principal Permanent Secretary of the Civil service. The members of the Council are drawn from the public and private sectors and academia and include representation of local SMEs and FDIs.
For the first time a long-term National Strategic Plan for R&I for 2007-2010, featuring over 65 recommendations and including a number of key performance indicators relating to (a) the SET Human Capital Base; (b) Future R&I Capacity; (c) R&I Progress and Performance; (d) Industry-Academia Collaboration; (e) Current R&I Capacity; (f) Imported Know-How; (g) Growth and Wealth Creation; and (h) Funding Sources for R&I in business, higher education and Government. The Plan reflects a strong business orientation and focuses resources and efforts on four priority areas in the coming 2-3 years, namely energy and environment, health and biotechnology, information and communications technologies and value-added manufacturing.
The Vision is underpinned by the following strategic objectives:
(i) to leverage state R&I finances / funding to address pressing national issues relating to water, energy and the environment;
(ii) to focus public resources, energies and abilities towards a select number of value-added economic sectors in order to obtain value-added R&I;
(iii) to put in place the appropriate supporting and enabling environment for SMEs to innovate;
(iv) to facilitate the establishment of an enabling platform that will allow Maltese enterprises in partnership with overseas institutions and business to enhance imported know-how and technology for exportation in the Southern Mediterranean region;
(v) to establish the appropriate mechanism for a business to academia nexus and an intellectual property framework for public funded research;
(vi) to develop a National Pro-Innovation Culture supportive of Invention, Risk-taking and Entrepreneurship.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCIENCE & RESEARCH COOPERATION MALTA - BELARUS
The main funding opportunities currently open for science and research cooperation between Belarus and Malta relate to the EU programmes, namely the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP). (See chapter on European Community Research).
© National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 2011
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